Improvement in car-couplings



y Rm. WoLooTT.

Car Coupling. 101.104,678. r Y mtented June 21, 1870.

NPEVERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHgR, WASHINGTON. D. Cy

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUssEL EjwoIlcoTIgoE c LAREMoNT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASsIGNoE To AUSTIN o. CHASE, 0E SAME PLAGE.

iMPRovEM ENT |N GAR-COUPLINGS,

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 104,678, dated June 21, 1870.

g To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that-I, RUSSEL F. WoLcor'r, of Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new'and useful Imln'ovement in Uar- Couplings, ot" which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming piirt of this specifi- My improvement in car-couplingsembracesa dat spring arranged within each Vcouplinghead or bumper, with a jaw-piece of peculiar form attached to its free end, and carrying a 'shackle-lifter for operation in connection with a fixed catch arranged in the lower part of the mouth of the bumper, and provided with an unshackling-lever for operation by the foot or hand, the several parts being so constructed that the coupling-link or shackle is readily inserted and held securely inV lock, with every provision against becoming detached Iby any effect of the ordinary draft or different heights of the cars, and is free to meet all oscillating or irregular movements of the same when on the track, but breaking the connection in case of a car being thrown off the track.

- Referring to the accompanying drawings, A A represent the coupling-heads or bumpers of two adjacent cars. 4Each of these heads has arranged Within its'upper portion a flat sprin g, a, made fast in the rear, and carrying at its,for ward and free end, for up and down play within the mouth of said head, a jaw-piece, b, of a `form so that when held down by the spring it drops a little below a catch, c, 4formed in the lower part of the mouthto hold the couplinglink or shackle d in its place; but it is made shelving, or of a turned-up shape in fronton its under side, and the catch made falling away on top to facilitate the entryot the shackle over the catch and under or into lock 'by the jaw-piece; also, the mouth ofthe bumper being suitably shaped to allow ofnll necessary play of the shackle to meet the ordinary oscillating or irregular movements ofthe cars when on the track without any risk of its becoming Adetached. The catches c are of slightly hooked form at their back or locking end, so that in case the cars should differ in height the raised end of the shackle will 'be restrained from slip? ping oll its catch by the ordinary draft on the shackle. In case, however, one of the cars should get off the track, the shackle iirbeing pressed orjerked down at its one end and raised at its opposite end will be detached from its one catch by raising the spring-borne jawpiece b of said catch; and to insure the lifting ofthe shackle from off or overr the catch under such circumstances each jaw-piece b is provided with a shackle-hook or lifter, e, arranged to project from the under side ofthe jaw-piece, so'that the latter in rising carries the shackle along with it and prevents the shackle from falling back before the spring operating on the `jaw-piece closes, thus allowing of the shackle being jerked or drawn forward over the catch, and which the shape ot the shackle lifter in no way interferes with.

'Arran ged on the top ofeach head or bumper, and in connection by links or rodsf with each spring tt and jaw-piece b, is a bent or other suitably shaped lever, g, for operation by the foot, hand, or other mea-ns, for the purpose of unshackling the coupling at pleasure or as required. A

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

The combination and arrangement of the jaw-piece b, its spring a., and shackle -lifter e vwith the catch c, lever g, and its connectinglink f, as shown and described.

' R. F. WOLGOTT. Witnesses:

yHENRY J UDKINS, T. R. GOWDE. 

